LearnMusicTheory.net 4.3.2 The Modes of Minor These modes use the same notes as the melodic minor scale, but start on different scale steps (except min-maj). So the parent scale of these modes is the melodic minor scale. Each is associated with a chord, shown below. 1. Min-maj 1st mode of the melodic minor scale C- w wmw ^ & w wmbw w w b9 §13 2nd mode of the melodic minor scale 2. Susb9 (§13) wmw w ("2nd mode" means it starts on scale step 2.) Dsusb9 (§13) & wmbw w w w Phrygian-dorian = Phyrgian + §13 #4 #5 3. Lydian aug. mbw 3rd mode of the melodic minor scale wmw w Lydian augmented = Lydian + #5 Eb ^ #5 & bw w w w #4 4. Lydian dominant 4th mode of the melodic minor scale w wmbw w F7#11 & w w w wm Lydian-mixolydian = Mixolydian + #4 5. Min-maj w w 5th mode of mel. minor wmw wmbw Functions as an inversion of C- C- ^ /G & w w ^ 6th mode of melodic minor 6. Half-diminished w w m w wmbw w Locrian with major 9 (§9) A-7b5 (§9) & w w Levine says "Locrian #2" w 7. Altered dominant wmbw w w w 7th mode mel. minor B7alt & wm w "diminished whole tone" Shortcuts from parallel scales You can also spell the modes starting from a major or minor scale on the same tonic pitch as that mode: D natural minor scale D phrygian-dorian scale (compare marked notes) lower Phrygian- I I 2nd step, I I dorian w bw w w raise _ w nw w w Dsusb9 (§13) & w w w _ & bw w w w 6th step _ w Eb major scale Eb lydian augmented scale Lydian aug. raise I I w w steps I w w Eb #5 bw bw w _ wI w w ^ & bw w w 4 & 5 _ & bw w w _ F lydian dominant scale Lydian F major scale raise dominant I w 4th step, I I w bwI w w w _ nw w w bw F7#11 & w w w lower _ & w w w 7th step _ A natural minor scale G half-diminished scale Half-diminished I w w w lower I w w w w w w w 5th step _ w w w bw A-7b5 (§9) & w _ & w REMEMBER: _ Mode 1 > Ionian > major scale B mixolydian scale B altered dominant scale Mode 2 > Dorian > minor scale #6 b9, #9, Altered dominant I #wI w w I nwI w w Mode 3 > Phrygian > minor scale b2 I #w wI #w #11, b13, I nwI bw nw B7alt & w #w _ & w nw Mode 4 > Lydian > major scale #4 no 5th _ b9 #9 3rd #11 b13 _ (D ) Mode 5 > Mixolydian > major scale b7 (CX) # (E#) Mode 6 > Aeolian > natural minor scale Mode 7 > Locrian > minor scale b2, b5 Copyright © 2013 by Mark Feezell. All Rights Reserved..